There has been "a lot of negative talk this year" about the Pacers' home attendance, but the team execs yesterday said that "all signs are pointing up, and they’re hoping to use this year’s playoffs to push next season’s numbers even higher," according to Anthony Schoettle of the INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL. Pacers Sports & Entertainment Senior VP and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Todd Taylor said that attendance "rose" 7.7% over last season. The boost "represented the team's second consecutive attendance increase, and fourth in the last five seasons." Taylor said that ticket revenue for this season "also increased" about 7.7%. Most of the gains in attendance and ticket revenue were "seen in season and mini-season package sales." The Pacers this year "averaged 15,269 for 41 home games, compared to 14,168 for 33 home games during last year’s lockout-shortened season." They "sold out 10 games at the 18,165-seat Bankers Life Fieldhouse." Taylor added that sponsorship sales "are also on the rise ... up about 20 percent over last season." The "massive new scoreboard the team installed during the off-season helped boost those," and Taylor "expects more improvement next season." The Pacers announced a "sellout crowd for the playoffs' first-round opener Sunday" against the Hawks. While there are "still about 750 tickets remaining" for tonight's game, Taylor is "expecting another full house." Looking forward, the Pacers have "added new signage outside and within the Fieldhouse to promote season-ticket sales for next year; and they’ve launched an ad campaign using high-profile billboards around the city." Taylor said that the Pacers have "used incentives for playoff ticket buyers this month to sell 500 new season packages for next season" (IBJ.com, 4/23).
